“All that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it to dry land.” Exodus 14:21 (NIV)

Do you feel alone?

Does God feel far away?

Does life seem dark - are you afraid?

At one point in my life, I answered “yes” to each of these questions. Following a tragic incident in my life, fear filled my heart. God seemed so distant. I felt completely alone.

It was then that God placed a familiar story before me from Exodus chapter 14. It tells the story of the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt. Initially, Pharaoh agreed to let God’s people go, but soon after they left, he changed his mind. He began to pursue them with 600 of his best chariots. The approaching army terrified the Israelites. They cried out to Moses. Moses reminded the people of God’s promise that He would deliver them. But their circumstances told them otherwise. They heard the rumbling of the chariots charging toward them. They saw the huge body of water blocking their only escape.

Can you imagine their fear? The reality they knew was that Pharaoh’s finest soldiers were pursuing them, and there was a huge obstacle, the Red Sea, preventing their escape. God’s people had no idea the miracle awaiting them.

When Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, Scripture says, “All that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it to dry land” (Exodus 14:21). Because it was dark, the Israelites could not quite see what God was doing. In the dark of night, God tirelessly worked on behalf of His children to deliver them, just as He had promised.

It’s as if the words of this story leapt off the pages of Scripture and into my dark, desolate heart. Although the Israelites could not see or hear God, He was working in the midst of their darkness. I too could not “see” or “feel” God, but He was at work around me in invisible ways – present and active, working on my behalf to carry me through my dark place.

In the dark, we have two choices. We can take matters into our own hands, turning to drugs or alcohol to numb our pain, seeking out friends’ advice, or the latest self-help book, never really knowing if any of them is the way to healing and wholeness. Or we can look to God. We can open His Word and know that He guarantees healing and wholeness.

Would you like the Truth of God’s Word to come alive for you? Would you like Him to come along side of you? You need only ask. The Lord promises, “When you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.” (Jeremiah 29:13). You don’t have to feel alone - seek God today!

Dear Heavenly Father, it is so difficult to walk through darkness. You feel so far away. I feel so alone. Thank You for the promise that You will never leave me or forsake me, and that there is nothing in all creation that will ever separate me from the love I have in You and in Your Son. Walk ever so closely with me during this darkness, Lord. Speak to me. Give me hope. Show me the treasures in my darkness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application Steps:Sometimes God allows difficult circumstances to do a mighty transformational work in our lives. Will you examine your heart and honestly ask the Lord whether your difficult circumstances might not be a part of His refining process for your life...to make you more like Him? Journal what you discover.

Reflections:Reflect on this verse from Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to...bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners...” Allow God the Healer, Jesus the Redeemer to come bind up your brokenness, show you the way to freedom, and release you from the darkness. He is waiting.

Power Verses:1 John 1:5b, “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” (NIV)

Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any power, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

I am rejoicing in God's work of salvation for the Israelites as they were pursued by the Egyptians and for us thru His Son on the cross. I am so glad for this devo. I am excited that I can share it with others who are in that place now. I praise God for you. Thank you.

Thank you for your devotional. It came at a time when my family is facing a lot. Job loss and health issues. It reminded me that God is at work and he is there through it all. Thank you for your ministry. God bless you!

This daily devotion came to me at a perfect moment when I really felt I was far away from God. I knew instantly when I saw the header "You Are Not Alone" that it was from God reassuring me that He is still beside me and that He knows my everything! I want to praise God and thank Him for Proverbs 31 Ministries' Daily Devotions which encourage me. These messages are truly inspired by God Himself and I want to thank him for each and everyone of you in this Ministry. Keep up the good work for great is your reward! Thank you.

I was feeling very alone and helpless until I read this devotional. Thank you for allowing God to work thru you! Please keep me in your prayers as my family and marriage face a wall of water and charging the enemy!

Thank you for this devotional. I keep coming back and reading it. I had a miscarriage this past month. It took us 7 years to get pregnant. The loss I feel it overwhelming and this devotional keeps reminding me that My Savior is still with me, with me through all of this terrible hurt.